Child Labor in India

“India has the dubious distinction of being the nation with the largest number of child laborers in the world.” (Azad India Foundation, 2010)

         Child labor is a big issue in India.  India has a big population and it is getting bigger.  Due to the large population, people living in India don’t have enough jobs and some don’t have place to live.  Mumbai is one of the big cities in India and it is over populated. In Mumbai some poor people don't have place to live so they sleep on the sidewalk.  People living in slums don’t have jobs which can fulfill their needs.  According to the "Child Labor" article, "Poverty is the reason for the child labor in India." (2008) Poverty plays a big role in child labor.  Families have don't have enough money so they made their children work.  Child labor is not easy for children.  Children sacrifices their education and their childhood experience.  They don't get to explore themselves.  These children struggles a lot and don’t get paid enough.   Child labor is a source of income for poor families.  Parents have no choice; they send their children to work so they can have enough money to eat.


“The study found that a child's income accounted for between 34 and 37 percent of the total household income.” (Azad India Foundation, 2010)  


         Child labor is not only in slums, it is all over India.  There are many small villages where child labor is being used.   In villages, many children are not aware of education and they end up working.   “Child labor is also because of unsustainable systems of landholding in agricultural areas and caste system in the rural areas.” (Azad India Foundation, 2010) Some poor families in villages make their children work so they can pay their dept.  Some children work inside landlord’s house so they can get more money and food.   One of the other reasons for child labor in India is cast system.   India has a big cast system.  In big cities most people don’t follow cast system.  However, in small cities, including villages, the cast system is followed religiously.  Lower cast people don’t get many choices in villages, they have to work under upper cast people.  Their children don’t get opportunity for education so they end up working with their parents. 

 

Azad India Foundation, (2010). “Child Labor in India”. Retrieved, 23^rd February, 2011.  http://www.azadindia.org/social-issues/child-labour-in-india.html

Child Labor, (2008). “Child Labor in India”. Retrieved, 23^rd February, 2011.  http://www.childlabor.in/child-labour-in-india.htm

Gupta, Pranay. Gupta, Sohini, (2008). "Extreme Child Labor in India". Online video clip. YouTube.  Retrieved, 23rd February, 2011.